Dallas Mavericks Blog

Delonte West will play tonight vs. Miami; Haywood could return, too

Delonte West will be in action tonight against the Miami Heat for the first time since Feb. 15 when he broke and dislocated his right ring finger.

Coach Rick Carlisle said after this morning’s shootaround that West’s rehabilitation will move from therapy to game action, even though the 6-3 guard is not fully healed.

“He’s got a hand that’s going to be sore for the next four or five months, based on what they’re telling me,” Carlisle said. “A lot of it is going to be getting him into it and trying to eliminate some of that apprehension. And he’s going to have stingers. Tonight, we’ll begin this process. How much he’ll play tonight, I don’t know. But I would like to get him some minute tonight if we can.”

West said he’s looking forward to returning to the court. He will have his middle and ring finger on his non-shooting hand taped together and heavily padded.

“I’m glad to be back,” he said. “But I would love to be back healthy because you use your hands so much. I use my hands a lot so it’s definitely taking a lot away from me. But I’m going to find a way.”

Asked about the protective pad on his finger, West said: “A lot of padding all the way around. And a lot on top of it to absorb some contact. It’s not going to do much. It’s a mental thing. I just got to block the pain out. Hopefully I won’t have any serious contact. There’s pain with everything I do with it.”

Meanwhile, center Brendan Haywood also went through the shootaround but it is less clear whether he will be able to play tonight.

Haywood, who sprained his right knee and has missed six games, has been fitted for a bulky brace.

“I’m not sure,” he said of playing tonight. “We’ll look at it before the game, especially with a back to back. If I play, I have to wear the offensive lineman knee brace. If I get out there, I got to wear the knee brace like I’m going to block for Peyton Manning.”

Haywood said he hopes to play Friday in Orlando if he can’t go tonight against the Heat.

“They’re doing better,” Carlisle said. “I think there’s a chance they could both be available, although I don’t know how much we’ll play them, if at all.”